News and Press Releases
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will fund an animal surveillance project for Vanuatu.
The FAO Vanuatu Animal Disease Surveillance Project will last for four months and will cost $US100,000 or approximately Vt10 million.
FAO is working in partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) to bring our global expertise to the Pacific and to harness locally relevant skills and experience from SPC as the key...
The Regional Expert Roundtable on Climate Services for Agriculture and Food and Nutrition Security was held recently in Apia, Samoa. The meeting was a partnership between FAO, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), the New Zealand National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC).
A range of experts gathered from the agricultural, climate change and weather sectors to discuss how...
Investing in Cook Islands agriculture
27.02.2015 Cook Islands
The shortage of agricultural land and high cost of agricultural labour located near major domestic markets can hinder the competitiveness of the agriculture sector in the Pacific Region.
Changing to knowledge, land and labour-saving approaches to farming and agro-industry development requires capital investments and adopting new technologies, equipment and infrastructure.
In the Cook Islands, FAO has entered into an agreement to provide funding support for local agriculture with the Cook Islands Chamber...
Reducing post harvest loss and food safety risk in Samoa
FAO funds post harvest horticultural supply chain research
27.02.2015 Samoa
Samoa has a big problem with postharvest waste. But how big a problem? What are the key causes? Are some crops, production and postharvest practices more vulnerable to high wastage and why? These questions and others were discussed at a public forum which was held rencently at the University of the South Pacific in Samoa. At the forum, farmers and key stakeholders were briefed on horticultural supply chain research which...
Countries in Asia and the Pacific prepare for new global climate-change agreement
The environmentally friendly Asian road to Paris
24.02.2015 Bangkok, Thailand
Representatives from some 20 Asia-Pacific countries have moved a step closer in developing their national strategies for action in anticipation of a new global agreement on climate change expected to be finalized later this year in Paris, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced today.
The regional experts’ consultation on “Implications of Lima for Climate Change and Forests in Asia-Pacific” follows the successful global outcomes of the Lima Climate Conference last...
Forest-reliant communities in Asia need policies to better protect their tenure, livelihoods and ensure their food security
Cambodia, Nepal and Viet Nam work with FAO to establish best practices
12.02.2015 Kathmandu, Nepal
A momentum is growing across Asia to better protect the tenure and livelihoods of millions of people who rely on access to forest lands with three countries stepping forward to further secure these rights, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced today.
Most of the countries in Asia and the Pacific are struggling to address issues related to forest tenure. Inadequate regulatory frameworks and a lack of institutional capacity are...
UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Japan’s University of Tsukuba pledge to work together toward improvements in global food security
New generation of agricultural scientists critical to achieving a food-secure world
06.02.2015 Tsukuba, Japan
A top-ranked university in Japan is teaming up with the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to improve the regional knowledge base and promote joint efforts in the fight against hunger and under-nutrition, the FAO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific announced today.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) entered into effect today between FAO and the University of Tsukuba during a signing ceremony at the university in Japan’s Ibaraki Prefecture,...
Publication: Success Factors in Aquaculture Enterprises in the Pacific
Farm Assets and Farm Performance of Private Aquaculture Enterprises
30.01.2015 Kiribati, Palau, Vanuatu, and Marshall Islands
Promoting responsible and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture is central to FAO’s work because it ensures environmental as well as economic well-being.
The FAO case study called Success Factors in Aquaculture Enterprises in the Pacific outlines aquaculture enterprises in Kiribati, Palau, Vanuatu, and Marshall Islands. The case studies provide lessons for regional issues and aspirations for aquaculture development.
The case studies demonstrate business models and government interventions that provide economic incentives to farmers...
Here to help develop Agribusiness in the Pacific
- Agribusiness Junior Professional Officer joins the Sub-regional team
30.01.2015 Samoa
Shukrullah Sherzad joined the team at FAO-SAP as Agribusiness Junior Professional Officer in October 2014. A national from Afghanistan, Mr Sherzad intends to use his technical skills and experience in agribusiness and food science to help support development of agribusiness in the Pacific region.
“The agribusiness sector, which comprises the business activities performed from farm to fork, is an important generator of employment and income worldwide.” Said Mr Sherzard.
“Agribusiness and agro-industries...
Learning to Cope with Climate Change and Natural Disasters
- Building community resilience in Vanuatu
30.01.2015 Vanuatu
Adapting to climate change is key to achieving food security for the future, particularly in areas susceptible to the impacts of climate change.
A project called Community resilience and coping with climate change and natural disasters in Vanuatu was launched in 2011 with the aim to assist farmers to use alternative farming methods to help mitigate the impacts of climate change and natural disasters.
Under the guidance of FAO officers, selected farmers...